Ferrari’s Smart Splitter Tech Could Prevent Costly Supercar Damage; Here's How

Speeding in a supercar is all fun and games until you miss a speed bump or a subtle road hazard, causing your front splitter to take the hit and your wallet to cover the cost of underbody repairs. With most supercars, avoiding such damage is entirely up to the driver. But if your car wears a Ferrari badge, the Italian marque might have your back. According to a newly filed patent in the U.S., Ferrari appears to be working on an automatic braking system to prevent low-slung supercars from scraping against steep driveways, potholes, and other road debris. While Ferrari hasn’t officially confirmed the development or production plans for this tech yet, the idea could be a blessing for preserving those costly carbon-fibre splitters. Here’s a closer look at how this patented system could work and what it means for future Ferraris.

Here's How Ferrari's New Tech Will Work

Ferrari’s new patent, based on what the filing describes, follows a unique approach from standard automatic braking systems. While conventional systems focus on avoiding a full-on collision, Ferrari's new tech uses sensors to detect the height of an object relative to the car's own ride height. This allows it to identify low-lying obstacles that could cause costly scrapes but might not be a major collision risk.

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When the system detects a possible obstacle, it first gives the driver an audible warning. This alert allows the driver to slow down or steer away if needed. But if the driver doesn’t respond and the car keeps moving toward the hazard, the system will step in. It will automatically apply the brakes to reduce speed and avoid damage to the front splitter or other parts of the car. What's worth noting is that the system doesn’t use the car’s built-in speed data. It calculates speed in real time by tracking how the distance between two points changes.

How the New Auto-Braking Feature Could Benefit Future Ferrari Models?

Ferrari's new tech hints at how the brand is focusing more on real-world usability of its expensive supercars. Needless to say, the most common problem of a supercar owner (especially in India) is scraping the front end on speed bumps or steep driveways, which could lead to costly repairs. However, the Italian car manufacturer's new system aims to solve that problem. By helping avoid common road hazards, it could make daily driving far less stressful.

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Many high-performance cars, including some from competitors like Porsche and Lamborghini, use hydraulic or electric axle-lift systems to raise the front of the car over obstacles. Ferrari's patent offers an alternative, sensor-based, and potentially lighter solution. It could be a way for Ferrari to save weight, which is imperative for performance, while still providing the same practical benefit.